title: Does scapular positioning predict shoulder pain in recreational overhead athletes?
abstract: The objective of this prospective study is to investigate possible scapular related risk factors for developing shoulder pain. Therefore, a 2-year follow-up study in a general community sports centre setting was conducted. A sample of convenience of 113 recreational overhead athletes (59 women and 54 men) with a mean age of 34 (17-64; SD 12) years were recruited. At baseline, visual observation for scapular dyskinesis, measured scapular protraction, upward scapular rotation and dynamic scapular control were evaluated. 22% (n=25) of all athletes developed shoulder pain during the 24 months following baseline assessment. The Mean Shoulder Disability Questionnaire (SDQ) score for the painful shoulders was 34.8 (6.3-62.5; SD 17.4). None of the scapular characteristics predicted the development of shoulder pain. However, the athletes that developed shoulder pain demonstrated significantly less upward scapular rotation at 45° (p=0.010) and 90° (p=0.016) of shoulder abduction in the frontal plane at baseline in comparison to the athletes that remained pain-free. In conclusion, although these scapular characteristics are not of predictive value for the development of shoulder pain, this study increases our understanding of the importance of a scapular upward rotation assessment among recreational overhead athletes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physio-therapy, University Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Struyf
authors.affiliation: Human Physiology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nijs
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Ghent -University, Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meeus
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Roussel
authors.affiliation: Kinetic Control, Kinetic Control Int., London, Belgium.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mottram
authors.affiliation: Health Care Sciences, Artesis University College, -Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Truijen
authors.affiliation: Human Physiology & Sports Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meeusen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012399:Rotation; D012540:Scapula / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000502:physiology; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult